1. Communication is a fundamental key to sustaining a healthy relationship. Conflict is inevitable in even the healthiest relationships, so knowing how to effectively communicate so that each person is being heard and understood to help resolve not only conflict but minor mishaps that could result in bigger problems. Asking yourself  how well do we both communicate? Are we able to get our points across, do we both feel understood or heard? Is essential to making a relationship work especially with someone who could be a prospect for marriage. 

 

  1. People often think that finances are the biggest problem in marriage and although that may be true, having conflicting views are up there as well. Its important to know if you both share the same values and beliefs as this will be important is raising children, When we have conflicting views and or beliefs; this leads to unyoked parenting styles thus leading to further conflict in the marriage, its important to make sure that you both are on the same page in how you both would raise children together, so ask yourself “How does my partner view raising children”?

 

  1. We may all be familiar with the popular book “ 5 Love Languages” and have even taken it a step further by coaxing our partners to take the test with us to determine how each person receives loves. Consequently, when we are not able to express love appropriately in that partner’s language, this not only leads to conflict, insecurities, jealously, miscommunication and so forth, so its important to know if the person expresses love in the way that you receive it or if their form of expression is sufficient long term, so asking “How does my partner express love?”

 

  1. One of the best ways to know if someone may be a prospect for marriage in how they may interact with your family as this may provide a helpful snapshot of how they may interact with their own family. How they interact with mom and dad, siblings, especially younger siblings or cousins and your crazy Uncle Sean may be good indicators of their ability to interact not only with your family long term but also maybe a reflection of if they are family-oriented; so asking “How does my partner interact with my family?” Is something to reflect upon.